Man Given Probation In Shooting

A Temperance man who once was charged with murder was sentenced to time served and proba­tion after it was determined that he acted in self­defense in a shooting death. Thomas J. Wallace, 33, of 280 Heather St. was sentenced to 28 days in jail and was given credit for that amount of time already served.

Monroe County Circuit Judge Michael A. Weipert also sentenced him to five years of probation, in­cluding being monitored on a tether.

During a Dec. 29, 2012, robbery at Mr. Wallace’s home, the suspect in the criminal case was shot and killed. That shooting victim, Ronald Roth of To­ledo, had assaulted Mr. Wallace and stole his TV at knifepoint during the incident at the Wallace resi­dence in the Inverness Too Mobile Home Park off Lewis Ave. in Temperance.

According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Of­fice, Mr. Roth and a woman arrived at Mr. Wallace’s home early that morning. During a struggle Mr. Wallace suffered knife wounds and he managed to grab a handgun. He pursued the suspects outside and shot Mr. Roth as he sat in the front seat of a car.

Court records indicated that Mr. Roth was shot six times.

The woman fled the scene and is in an Ohio jail on unrelated charges.

The Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office initially charged Mr. Wallace with open murder and man­slaughter, but those charges were dismissed and Mr. Wallace pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of careless discharge of a weapon causing injury or death, a high misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison.

Prosecutors determined that Mr. Wallace acted in self-defense and had a legal right to stop a fleeing felon. Mr. Wallace was represented by Temperance attorney Timothy D. Churchill.

Mr. Wallace was sentenced to 270 days in jail but the remaining balance of 242 days would be served as the court directs based on any violations of pro­bation.

Mr. Wallace also must take counseling, attend necessary meetings and forfeit his gun. He also must pay $3,198 fines and costs.